Improved apparatus for rectifying alcohol



M.. THOMPSON.

Alcohol Rectifier.

No. 43,805. I Patented Aug.9, 1864;;

STATES UNITE MAGKLOT THOMPSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RECTIFYING ALCOHOL.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MACKLOT THOMPSON, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rectifying Alcohols; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The improvements subject of this application relate to the construction of diaphragmplates which, by their superposition, constitute the column in which the operation of rectification is effected. In the ordinary rectifying-stills the caps of the individual sections constituting the'column terminate by the thickness of the metal, so that the charging of the liquid with the alcoholic vapor is effected but imperfectly. By forming a flange. of a certain dimension around said caps the vapors remain in contactwith the liquid for a greater period of time, and the rectification is effected proportionately more thoroughly.

My improvements further relate to the overflow-tubes, whereby the liquid from one section is discharged into the others; andthis improvement consists in making the orifice of the pipe of an expanded form or funnel shaped, whereby the fall of the liquid is effected more regularly and more rapidly.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I shall now proceed to describe an apparatus constructed, arranged, and operated in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the rectifying apparatus with all its appurtenances complete. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one of the dia-' phragm-sections which constitute the rectifying-column, and Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same.

The apparatus is composed of a boiler, A, containing one hundred and ten hectoliters, more or less. Vithin this boiler there is a serpentine jacket, B, through which steam is allowed to pass for the purpose of heating the contents of the boiler. The boiler is moreover provided with a man-hole, air and steam discharge cock, a steamsupply cock, water-gage, and discharge-cock. Upon this boileris established or placed a copper column composed of sections 0, united by clamps, each section carrying a diaphragm-plate, 1?, provided with three caps, D. These caps terminate on their under side by a flange, d, which compels the vapor to remain in contact with the liquid for a greater length of time. The overflow-tubes E, whose function it is to discharge the liquid from one section into the next section below, are enlarged on top, as indicated in Fig. 2, in order to accelerate and to render more regular the fall of the liquid. On top of the column there is a tube, F, by which communication is established between the columns and the refrigerator G. I would here remark that I deem it preferable to locate the refrigerator in such manner as that its bottom or lower part shall be a few inches or little above the upper part or the uppermost section of the column. The refrigerator is a cylindrical vessel containing a copper worm, H, and having arranged on the outside thereof analyzers for the purpose of returning the liquids to the rectifiers. The tube J conducts the vapor into a second refrigerator, K, placed below the refrigerator first referred to, and is composed like the other of a cylinder containing a coil or Worm in which the vapors are condensed. The tube L conveys water into the lower refrigerator, from which it rises into the upper refrigerator through the pipe M, in order to issue warm or heated through the tube N.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The boiler is filled to, say, three-fourths of its I capacity with the watery alcohol to be rectified, marking 50 centigrade. Steam is then introduced in the jacket B and the liquid is heated. The vapor, being generated are con densed by degrees between the diaphragms P until they reach. the last or uppermost compartment where and when the rectification commences. The alcoholic vapors thus traver'se successively the series of twenty-eight plates, 1?, abandoning a large quantity of wa ter which it had carried along with it. These vapors then issuing through the tube F enter the refrigerator G. The aqueous vapors are there condensed and returned to the column through the lower tube of the analyzers I, while the alcoholic vapors continue their course through the upper tube and finally collect in the second refrigerator, K, where they are condensed. The rectified alcohol then passes through the tube 0 into gage-cock P,

where its density may be observed, which is generally about 9? centigrade. The latter, which is the result and the product of the rectification, is received in different barrels according to the quality of the product. v Having thus described my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be I carried into effect, I claim 1. The employment, in rectifying stills or apparatus, of columns composed of diaphragmsections, in combination with inverted cups havinghorizontal flanges at their borders, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. The employment, in rectifying stills or apparatus,of columns composed of diaphragm- Sections, in combination with projecting overflow-pipes Whose orifice is enlarged or funnelshaped, substantially in the manner and fo the purposesdescribed.

3. The employment, in rectifying stills or apparatus, of ooluinnscomposed of diaphragmsections provided with flanged inverted cups, in combination with funnel-shaped overflowpipes, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing Witnesses.

MACKLOT THOMPSON.

Vitnesses:

E. SHERMAN GOULD, G. RICHARD. 

